Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 541,576	$ 567,831	$ 654,776
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	586,402	565,857	544,004
(Gain) loss on sale of depreciable real estate assets	(55,003)	62	(214,762)
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	0	(54)	(809)
Gain on consolidation of third-party development	(11,239)	0	0
Loss (gain) on embedded derivative in preferred shares	18,751	(18,528)	21,107
Stock compensation expense	15,789	15,699	18,798
Amortization of debt issuance costs, discounts and premiums	6,036	5,909	6,064
(Gain) loss on investments	(7,809)	(4,449)	45,357
Net change in operating accounts and other operating activities	3,789	4,860	(16,056)
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,098,292	1,137,187	1,058,479
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of real estate and other assets	(301,071)	(223,453)	(271,428)
Capital improvements and other	(322,372)	(341,224)	(296,176)
Development costs	(313,888)	(198,152)	(172,124)
Distributions from real estate joint venture	327	312	538
Contributions to affiliates	(2,874)	(16,636)	(13,849)
Proceeds from real estate asset dispositions	84,209	2,946	320,491
Proceeds from sale of markable equity securities	9,975	0	0
Net proceeds from insurance recoveries	20,195	945	27,312
Net cash used in investing activities	(825,499)	(775,262)	(405,236)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net (payments of) proceeds from commercial paper	(245,000)	475,000	20,000
Proceeds from notes payable	1,091,646	0	0
Principal payments on notes payable	(400,000)	(353,861)	(126,401)
Payment of deferred financing costs	(10,317)	(2)	(5,516)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(18,260)	(17,671)	(14,927)
Distributions paid on common units	(686,900)	(651,717)	(539,605)
Distributions paid on preferred units	(3,688)	(3,688)	(3,688)
Proceeds from issuances of common shares	1,230	205,070	1,083
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests	0	(15,757)	(43,070)
Net change in other financing activities	166	(5,279)	(10,646)
Net cash used in financing activities	(271,123)	(367,905)	(722,770)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	1,670	(5,980)	(69,527)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	55,091	61,071	130,598
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	56,761	55,091	61,071
Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at period end:
Cash and cash equivalents	43,018	41,314	38,659
Restricted cash	13,743	13,777	22,412
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	56,761	55,091	61,071
Supplemental information:
Interest paid	164,883	157,566	157,497
Income taxes paid	3,343	4,002	3,490
Non-cash transactions:
Distributions on common shares/ units declared and accrued	181,738	176,162	166,103
Accrued construction in progress	32,903	23,345	16,484
Interest capitalized	17,435	12,376	8,728
Conversion of OP Units to shares of common stock	3,529	1,092	2,118
Limited Partner [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	541,576	567,831	654,776
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	586,402	565,857	544,004
(Gain) loss on sale of depreciable real estate assets	(55,003)	62	(214,762)
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	0	(54)	(809)
Gain on consolidation of third-party development	(11,239)	0	0
Loss (gain) on embedded derivative in preferred shares	18,751	(18,528)	21,107
Stock compensation expense	15,789	15,699	18,798
Amortization of debt issuance costs, discounts and premiums	6,036	5,909	6,064
(Gain) loss on investments	(7,809)	(4,449)	45,357
Net change in operating accounts and other operating activities	3,789	4,860	(16,056)
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,098,292	1,137,187	1,058,479
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of real estate and other assets	(301,071)	(223,453)	(271,428)
Capital improvements and other	(322,372)	(341,224)	(296,176)
Development costs	(313,888)	(198,152)	(172,124)
Distributions from real estate joint venture	327	312	538
Contributions to affiliates	(2,874)	(16,636)	(13,849)
Proceeds from real estate asset dispositions	84,209	2,946	320,491
Proceeds from sale of markable equity securities	9,975	0	0
Net proceeds from insurance recoveries	20,195	945	27,312
Net cash used in investing activities	(825,499)	(775,262)	(405,236)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net (payments of) proceeds from commercial paper	(245,000)	475,000	20,000
Proceeds from notes payable	1,091,646	0	0
Principal payments on notes payable	(400,000)	(353,861)	(126,401)
Payment of deferred financing costs	(10,317)	(2)	(5,516)
Distributions paid on common units	(705,160)	(669,388)	(554,532)
Distributions paid on preferred units	(3,688)	(3,688)	(3,688)
Proceeds from issuances of common shares	1,230	205,070	1,083
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests	0	(15,757)	(43,070)
Net change in other financing activities	166	(5,279)	(10,646)
Net cash used in financing activities	(271,123)	(367,905)	(722,770)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	1,670	(5,980)	(69,527)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	55,091	61,071	130,598
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	56,761	55,091	61,071
Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at period end:
Cash and cash equivalents	43,018	41,314	38,659
Restricted cash	13,743	13,777	22,412
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	56,761	55,091	61,071
Supplemental information:
Interest paid	164,883	157,566	157,497
Income taxes paid	3,343	4,002	3,490
Non-cash transactions:
Distributions on common shares/ units declared and accrued	181,738	176,162	166,103
Accrued construction in progress	32,903	23,345	16,484
Interest capitalized	$ 17,435	$ 12,376	$ 8,728